The Writing Requirement

All entering students become part of the writing culture at Willamette through a series of writing-centered courses taken throughout their college careers. The program, which was initiated in 1995-96, has two central goals: the use of writing to develop understanding of course content across the disciplines, and the progressive development of fluency in writing for a variety of audiences, both general and disciplinary.

Most students will begin college writing in the first-year seminar (known as World Views from 1987-2005; College Colloquium beginning in 2006). For single majors, additional writing courses will include a writing-centered credit in the major, a writing-centered credit outside the major, and a writing-centered credit in any field (inside or outside the major). At least one of these credits must be an upper-division course at the 300 or 400 level. For double majors, additional courses will include a writing-centered credit in the first major, a writing-centered credit in the second major, and a writing-centered credit in any field (inside or outside the major). At least one of these credits must be an upper-division course at the 300 or 400 level.

Most transfer students will be required to take three writing-centered courses, as described above, provided the student has already taken the equivalent of one credit of a course similar to our writing-centered course offerings. A transfer student who has had no equivalent course will be required to take four writing-centered courses.

Students transferring in as juniors may request transfer credit for an additional writing-centered course by submitting a petition. This option will be extended to junior transfers during the admission process. Petition forms are available in the Registrar's Office and online. The deadline for exercising this option will be the end of their first semester at Willamette. Junior transfer students whose petitions are granted will be required to take two writing-centered courses, one in their major and one upper-division course outside of their major.

Here's the information in chart form:

CC

W in major

W out of Major or in Second Major

Additional W

Students who enter in Fall Semester of the first year

yes

one

one

one

Students who enter after Fall Semester of the first year, with a transferable w-like course(1)

no

one

one

one

Students who enter after Fall Semester of the first year, without a transferable course

no

one

one

two

Students who enter as juniors with a transferable w-like course

no

one

one

one(2)

All students must have at least one W course numbered 300 and above
(1)To be determined at entrance, with submission of transcripts
(2)Junior transfers may petition to have this requirement waived if they have a second transferable course, or in the case of transfers of less than a full-semester course, of three full-quarter courses.